Welcome to Cranmer’s Substack, where you will find all of my writings on New Zealand politics, culture and law.
As a lawyer, I have spent the last 25 years with my head buried in the minutiae of contracts, oblivious to everything save for family and the superficiality of current events. I don’t know why but the time feels right to raise my gaze from the papers on my desk and take a closer look at the challenges that New Zealand faces.
Although I’m a political conservative I have never spent much time trying to categorise my political leanings in any great detail - maybe I’m a Red Tory or a reluctant conservative of the type described by Kingsley Amis, I really don’t know:
Growing older, I have lost the need to be political, which means, in this country, the need to be Left. I am driven into grudging toleration of the Conservative Party because it is the party of non-politics, of resistance to politics.
In my final year at secondary school I received the Headmaster’s Prize for Service. I was given a gift voucher and told that I could purchase any book that I wanted which would be presented to me by the Headmaster on Speech Day. For a long time I had forgotten about that book until I moved house a few years ago and found it. Fittingly, it was called An Incomplete Education. Hopefully this Substack will continue my incomplete education, deepen my knowledge of politics, culture and law, and help me understand the ever-changing forces that shape our country.
Whilst I do have some axes to grind, I am here to learn in a collaborative and enjoyable environment, not to preach.
Many lawyers are failed writers, so I apologise in advance if you occasionally feel like you’re reading a contract or legal opinion. Hopefully my writing will also improve!
Why subscribe?
Described by the NBR in 2023 as:
One of the best commentators to have emerged on the media scene in the last year. First known under the pseudonym Thomas Cranmer, the financial and legally savvy Philip Crump attracted attention for his evisceration of the Three Waters fiasco. That was followed by equally trenchant criticisms of the hapless Labour Government in its death throes.
In his Media Insider column, the New Zealand Herald’s Editor-at-Large, Shayne Currie wrote that I have “carved out a reputation as an agenda-setting writer”.
People who already subscribe include many current and former politicians of different stripes, journalists, expert commentators, academics and everyday New Zealanders who are interested in commentary and analysis on some of the topics of the day.
My articles have been republished by The Spectator Australia and a number of blogs including Bassett, Brash and Hide, The Common Room, Plain Sight and Point of Order. I was also the founding editor of Newstalk ZB Plus.
I am currently a member of the Board of New Zealand on Air and in accordance with the requirements of that role I will be maintaining a politically neutral position in my writings for so long as I remain on the Board.
By subscribing, every new article goes direct to your inbox and can be accessed on the website.
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What are the benefits of a paid subscription?
Whilst the majority of my articles are free, I do publish some paid-only articles which provide additional, mostly personal, insight. Paid subscribers will also be able to comment on all articles and will have full access to the archive.
Three months after publication, each free article will be archived and thereafter will only be available to paid subscribers.
You’ll also be supporting independent citizen journalism.
Can I share your articles?
Yes! Please feel free to share my articles as far and as wide as you like, on whatever platform you prefer. Sharing my articles is a great way to show your support and I greatly appreciate the many times that readers have recommended my articles to friends, family and colleagues.
In addition, my articles are regularly republished with permission on many media and blog sites.
Housekeeping
Please mark this address as ‘not spam’. If you can’t find my articles, check your Promotions tab and spam folder. I am contactable at cranmer@substack.com.
To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this Substack, visit Substack.com.
